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NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

They finished with a total of 1,611 points from a nationwide media panel and were one of seven teams to hold their spot at the top of the rankings.

No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Kentucky and No. 4 Louisville all received first-place votes and remained in their positions from last week. So did No. 5 North Carolina, No. 6 Baylor and No. 7 Duke.

San Diego State was also a new addition to the poll this week, while Xavier and Illinois fell out.

Lincoln, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Nebraska Cornhuskers get their first taste of Big Ten Conference play tonight as they tangle with 11th-ranked Wisconsin at home in the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. Nebraska, which historically plays most of its non-conference games at home during the first month or so of the season, is in the midst of a four-game homestand right now and is carrying a four-game overall win streak into this meeting tonight. A week ago the Huskers had their problems with Central Michigan, but still managed to come away with a 72-69 triumph in order to move to 6-2 on their own floor.

Against Mississippi Valley State, a team which had won just one of 10 games heading into last week's matchup, the Badgers allowed just 29.2 percent field goal efficiency, while the hosts made good on a solid 50 percent of their total shots. Jordan Taylor showed why he is considered one of the top performers at the collegiate level as he tallied 17 points, while teammates Jared Berggren and Josh Gasser chipped in with 17 and 11 points, respectively. Although he shot just 1-of-6 from the field and finished with a mere five points, Ryan Evans made an impact with his team-high 11 rebounds in the triumph. Evans leads the way on the glass overall for the program with an even seven boards per outing, his 19 blocked shots also tops on the unit. Berggren, who is second in blocks with 18, accounts for a team-best 12.5 ppg, followed by Taylor (12.2 ppg) who is responsible for 65 assists in 13 games and already has more than three times as many dishes as he does turnovers (20). Clearly the key to this team's success has been a defense which has held foes to a meager 44.7 ppg on 33.5 percent shooting from the floor and 24.2 percent behind the three-point line. Needless to say, Wisconsin entered the week ranked first in the nation in scoring defense, with only one other team (Virginia) holding opponents to less than 50 ppg.

The Huskers made good on 58.3 percent from the floor in the first half, but then dropped down to 40.9 percent in the second half against Central Michigan last week. Luckily, Nebraska saved itself by connecting on 19-of-25 at the free-throw line after the break as it dealt with not having two of its top scorers in action. All five starters scored in double figures as Bo Spencer and Brandon Richardson both delivered 15 points, the former also handing out nine of the team's 17 assists. Brandon Ubel, Toney McCray and Caleb Walker all tossed in 11 points for the group, with McCray clearing eight boards as well. Without Brian Jorge Diaz (10.9 ppg) and Dylan Talley (9.1 ppg) the Huskers are leaning more heavily on Spencer who is putting up a team-leading 16.0 ppg in his first season with the program. Spencer has also handed out 47 assists and made 17 steals which helps to compensate for his 41.5 percent shooting from the floor thus far. While the Nebraska defense isn't anywhere near as powerful as that of the Badgers, the Huskers have to be pleased with the fact that they've been able to limit opponents to only 61.1 ppg to this point.

Notre Dame owns a narrow 29-27 edge in the all-time series between these rivals thanks to three straight wins over the Panthers.

Notre Dame lost its best players, Tim Abromaitis, at the very beginning of the season, and several players have been asked to step up in his absence. Eric Atkins has emerged as the leading active scorer for the club with his 13.9 ppg, and he is second with 44 assists. Jerian Grant, who is tops with 57 assists, ranks second in scoring with 12.7 ppg. The Fighting Irish are generating 72.7 ppg while limiting opponents to 65.2 ppg on 41.5 percent field goal efficiency. In the 41-point romp over Sacred Heart last time out, five UND players reached double figures in scoring, and Jack Cooley led the way with 19 points and eight rebounds. Grant tallied 15 points and seven assists, while Atkins netted 13 points. The Irish shot 61.4 percent from the field and finished with 25 assists against only four turnovers in what was a tremendous offensive performance.

Charlottesville, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 23rd-ranked Virginia Cavaliers have an outstanding chance to add another victory to their record before the start of ACC play when the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks come to Charlottesville this evening. Maryland-Eastern Shore, a member of the MEAC, is 0-1 in conference action and a disappointing 3-9 overall. The Hawks have lost two of their last three games and are coming off a 64-60 setback at Air Force back on December 17.

comments

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•    It's ok Sydney, 200 extra taxis on tonight. Good luck getting home! Pffft.

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•    Thick socks: 1% To be warm. 1% To be comfortable. 98% To slide across floor like a freakin' Ninja!

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•    Luck is what you have left over after you give 100 percent. - Langston Coleman #quotes

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•    love and other drugs home

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•    I got 22,272 points while escaping from demon monkeys in Temple Run. this is hard :/

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•    Pitt State defeated MO Southern in mens and womens basketball #fuckinA

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•    KJ & Truck a combined 8-32 from the field 2nite... and u expect 2 win? 17 TOs... u expect 2 win? 2 scoreless droughts of 5+ mins.. come on.

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•    This school plays notre dame though

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